Page 25 of Catch
“What?”
“When I checked out at the store, I went back to your Jeep, but when I got there, the keys were just… gone! I thought maybe I dropped them inside, so I retraced my steps, but I couldn’t find them anywhere. And I didn’t ask anyone if they’d been turned in because I didn’t want to cause a scene. Then I saw the sign for the police station and remembered you’d be here, so I walked.”
“Jesus,” I wiped a hand down my face. “When are you gonna chill out with the grand theft auto?”
“I’m sorry!” She started flailing her hands again, but I caught them, pressing them down to settle her. “You said the only thing off-limits was the gun safe.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, because technically she wasn’t wrong. Still, I figured she’d at least mention it before taking my Jeep for a joyride into town. Especially since she was dead set onnotbeing seen.
“Come on,” I sighed, rubbing a hand down her back to ease her nerves. “I’m driving you home. We’ll deal with the Jeep later.”
Guiding her outside and around the building, I was texting someone to cover the desk for a few minutes when I heard her voice again.
“Who’s that?” Loxley asked.
I looked up just in time to see Linc pulling into the lot.
“Shit,” I muttered.Think fast.Without hesitation, I whispered, “Just play along,” then pulled my cuffs off my belt and snapped them onto her wrists.
“The hell—?!” She tensed, instinctively pulling back, but I was already guiding her toward my car.
Linc rounded the row across from me just as I opened the back door and gently, but with the right amount of roughness for show, tossed Loxley inside. “It’s jail for you,” I announced. “Don’t even think about escaping.”
I winced immediately.Jesus, I sound like Barney Fife.
Linc slowed his steps, raising a brow. “Whoa. What’s going on?”
“Gotta transport this perp to the next town over for booking.” I shrugged like it was no big deal. Just another day of crime-fighting.
“Who is it? What happened?”
“Wish I could tell ya,” I sighed, actually meaning it. If he knew who was really in my car, he’d lose his damn mind. “I’ll be back in twenty.”
Linc gave me a look that screamedbullshit, but he didn’t push. I climbed into the driver’s seat and pulled out of the lot, gripping the wheel a little tighter than necessary. Loxley was still laying over in the backseat, her laughter filling the entire car.
“I’m glad you think this is funny,” I grumbled, though I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. “I’ve lied to my captain, my family, and now my best friend. All to keep you a secret.”
“Iknow,” she gasped, still laughing. “I’m sorry.”
“Youbetterbe making me the best damn apple pie in existence. Three kinds of apples, cinnamon,andsome damned allspice.”
“Oh no,” she sat up suddenly. “I forgot the allspice.”
I drummed my fingers against the steering wheel, taking the next turn onto the road that led home. Did I evenownallspice? Pretty slim chance. What single guy, who barely cooked and let his grandma feed him most of the time, would have allspice in his cabinet?
When we got to the house, I hurried to get Loxley out and uncuffed. But when I opened the door to the backseat, shewas still biting back a laugh that threatened to spill from her beautiful lips. I wasn’t sure what possessed me, but instead of uncuffing her like a reasonable person, I hauled her over my shoulder.
“What the hell—Miles!” she squealed, kicking her legs.
“You’re a repeat offender, Lox. Gotta make sure you learn your lesson.”
She wriggled and laughed, half-protesting as I carried her up the stairs and into the house. We went through the front door, down the hall, straight to her room. I noticed that she had taken the time to make her bed, which, honestly, impressed me a little.
She squirmed as I tossed her onto the bed. She landed with an “oomph” before I flipped her onto her stomach and kneeling on the bed behind her. “Don’t be a pain in the ass, Lox. That wasn’t part of our deal.”
“Neither was handcuffing me and throwing me around like a damn ragdoll,” she shot back, her laughter still filling the room.
I shook my head, finally undoing the cuffs and slipping them back onto my belt as I stood back up next to the bed. She rolled onto her back, grinning up at me, rubbing her wrists without thinking. But it instantly reminded me of the bruises Sam left on her and my humor was gone..
